With a predicted shortfall of 82.5 million skilled workers around the globe by 2030, drastic action is needed to prevent an international talent crisis. Fortunately, the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub is ahead of the game, with the success of last week’s ‘How to Recruit, Retain and Motivate’ conference.

To help Greater Lincolnshire businesses to find and keep top candidates for their business, the conference featured expert speakers sharing insights on everything from talent scouting to building a competitive employer brand. The event was an opportunity for employers to discuss specific concerns they have regarding recruitment, as well as discover practical strategies they can immediately apply to their own business.

Cllr Colin Davie, Executive Member for Economic Development at Lincolnshire County Council, said the annual recruitment conference is important for helping Lincolnshire businesses to make the most of their team.

“A business is only as good as its workforce,” he explained. “Whether it's finding new staff members or helping current employees to reach their full potential, the success of Lincolnshire's economy depends on the growth and job satisfaction of skilled workers.”

Claire Threapleton, owner of T10 Consulting, kicked off the event with her round-table discussion titled ‘The Challenges Your Business Encounters.’ Using her years of experience working with big-name brands including Nestle, Accenture and Capital One, Claire helped businesses to identify their barriers to recruitment and shared innovative ways to find and keep the best staff for their team.

In ‘Attract: The Importance of Your Employer Brand and the Power of Research,’ ThirtyThree’s Brand Strategist Lucy Moyle shared the stage with Lee Parker and Natalie Douglass – Veredus’s Strategic Research Director and Strategic Talent Solutions Director – to introduce Lincolnshire businesses to the significance of research in building a compelling employer brand that top candidates want to work for.

The conference’s keynote speaker was Rory Underwood MBE, England’s top try scorer, former RAF pilot and the founder of Wingman Ltd, a business consultancy that focuses on creating sustainable, high-performance environments. Using his 20 years of experience as a business consultant, plus his time as a part of several successful teams, Rory shared the secret to effective teamwork and how Lincolnshire businesses could create similar results in their team.

But recruitment isn’t the only issue Lincolnshire businesses are facing. In the final talk of the day, Claire addressed the issue of retention, sharing innovative ways that employers can keep their most valued employees from job hunting, while Will Goggin, Talent Adviser for SHL Global, explained how businesses could spot hidden talent and future leaders already in their workforce, future-proofing their business in the process.

Attendee Elizabeth Swan, Talent and Engagement Manager at the Longhurst Group, described the day as “thought-provoking.”

She said: “All the guest speakers were very passionate about their field of work and provided great insights that I will take back to our in-house recruitment team.

“Claire’s retention and succession session was particularly helpful, as was the look at our current advertising and how research can be better used to attract our ideal candidates.”

While Emma Olivier-Townrow, Business Development Manager at the New Theatre Royal Lincoln, added: “An incredibly high calibre of speakers and powerful advice. I leave with ideas and strategies to apply immediately and feel time away from the business is beyond justified.”

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